City Life From A True Expert

Today's post is featuring one of my closest friends and a much more seasoned and glamorous city expert than myself, Dakota Kate Isaacs, from Diaries of Serendipity, which you simply must check out! Whether you're a college intern or living the post-grad lifestyle, Dakota knows everything there is to know about fashion, PR, and New York City in the summer - and she was one of the biggest inspirations for me to start this blog and go after many many internship opportunities in the past year.

With that little intro, I will let Dakota take the stage and give you her comprehensive guide to living in the city in the summer (especially if you're a first-timer like me!) and how to totally rock it!

Hello city gals!

It's that time of year again--summer internship season. With your purses prepped full of back-up batteries, roll-up flats, and your minimergency kits, smooth out your skirt and press that UP on the elevator-- your dreams start now.

Reality check; dreams don't work unless you do.

Sure, the not-so-glamorous side of the fashion and beauty world (my internship spécialité) can include steaming couture gowns, fetching lattes, and spending hours in sample closets. Yes, the Devil Wears Prada is real. Yes, you will get lost over and over again. Yes, you will be expected to show up early and stay in late. And yes, this will be one of the most formative experiences of your life.

Figure out your priorities. For me it was making connections and getting myself to the “next level”. So what are yours? Do you want a job with this company? Looking for a resume builder? How about testing the waters in the sector of business? Act accordingly.

As a PR girl, fun is part of the job. Club openings, client events, and product launches are all part of the task list du jour--but being tactful and calculated is also in that description. Here are a few of my tips for making the most out of your summer internship in the city:

Say Yes to Everything

Yesterday morning I was browsing our shared calendar within the PR team and noticed a meeting regarding a topic I’m interested in. So I e-mailed the organizer and asked if I could sit in. It’s about saying “yes” to everything--even if it necessarily isn’t offered your way, go get it. Client dinner in SoHo? Yes. Extra help with an event at The Plaza? Yes. Send our 20 sample boxes to top beauty editors within 10 minutes? Yes.

While at a previous internship with the top beauty PR firm in the country, I was speaking to my supervisor who told me the reason she was hired was because the boss noticed her as the intern helping at every event. Every. Single. Event. Be that girl, say yes.

Remember Why You’re There

Remember what you're there for. Sure, you've found yourself doing a mundane task or drowning in Excel spreadsheets, but look at the bigger picture. It's incredibly easy to get caught up in the moment and lose sight of the impact this internship will have on your career, so don't let it. Write your favorite quote in your planner, keep a running list of completed assignments, and document the work you’re doing. Be strategic.

Keep A Little Black Book

The most valuable thing you'll take away from any internship is the contacts made. Now multiply that by a milli and you've got the formula for the amount of contacts you'll have access to in a big city. Check-in with them semi-annually, remember things about them and ask! Show your interest in their interests and watch your rolodex bloom. It’s sad but true that it’s not about what you know--it’s about who you know.

Fake It Till You Make It

Whether you know the city like the back of your hand, or are clenching your iPhone map for dear life-- walk with a purpose. I’m not saying to boast about being a Photoshop wizard if you find choosing a Instagram filter daunting, but figure things out. Ask for help when needed, aka when you’ve exhausted (and Googled) every other option.

Now: shoulders back, head high, and replay that favorite pump-up song in your head as the elevator doors open.

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